Conceptual Study of Shodhana and Shamana Chikitsa

Abstract

Ayurveda's primary goal is to prevent and cure various diseases. Concept of  Chikitsa (Treatment) in Ayurveda has been extensively well defined, divided into  three main aspects on Shodhana (Purification Therapy), Shamana(Pacification  Therapy) and Nidana Parivarjana(Avoiding causative factors). Panchakarma  therapy of Ayurveda has caught the attention of people all over the world since  it is a unique type of treatment for various chronic, auto immunological,  hormonal, and degenerative problems, among others, where other types of  treatments have failed. Acharya Charaka emphasized the importance of  Panchakarma therapy by noting that the ailment healed by Shodhana will never  recur, however the disease treated by Shamana therapy may resurface in the  future. Here, in this article an attempt has been made to analyse the concept of  Shodhana and Shamana Chikitsa as mentioned in classical texts of Ayurveda.